Glacial Retreat Converts Exposed Landscapes from Net Carbon Sinks to Sources of Carbon Pollution

Communications Earth and Environment, 31 May 2025

In areas of southwest Greenland, researchers found that the landscapes left behind following glacier retreat no longer behave as net carbon sinks, but as sources of carbon pollution to the atmosphere. Initially, glacial meltwater interacting with these newly exposed areas can lead to the absorption of carbon dioxide and act as a net carbon sink. As these areas transition away from glacial conditions, however, the sediments, soils, and streams in the surrounding watershed can switch to become sources of greenhouse gases. This fast-paced shift from sink to source in warming polar regions carries implications for both regional carbon cycles as well as global carbon budgets.

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